Gray leads UH past Wake Forest in 5th-place game
LYNCHBURG, Va. — Houston coach Kelvin Sampson noted his team had not played with Rob Gray before Friday’s start of the Paradise Jam. It took Gray just three games to make his presence known as a clutch player the Cougars can count on.
Gray scored six of his 23 points during a late 8-0 run for Houston that broke a tie, and the Cougars beat Wake Forest 78-73 in the Paradise Jam’s fifth-place game Sunday.
“Friday, believe it or not, was our team’s first game with Rob,” Sampson said. “They hadn’t seen Rob. We just have to keep adjusting. The more games we play, the better we’re going to get.”
Gray was intent on making a good impression and did, especially in a tight game near the end.
“I’m trying to show people that I’m more than just a scorer,” the redshirt senior said. “I’m an efficient basketball player that knows how to make the right plays defensively and offensively. I just try to be as aggressive as possible while remaining as smart as possible.”
Wes Vanbeck added 19 points and Devin Davis 15 for Houston (3-1).
Bryant Crawford led Wake Forest (1-4) with 17 points.
DETROIT MERCY 116 HOUSTON BAPTIST 109
Corey Allen made seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 39 points, and Jermaine Jackson Jr. made two 3s in the final 10 seconds of regulation, helping the Titans top the Huskies at Nashville, Tenn.
Detroit Mercy took an 89-87 lead with 2:31 left in regulation but didn’t score again until Jackson’s 3-pointer to get within 94-92. After Oliver Lynch-Daniels made one of two free throws with 7.8 seconds left for HBU, Jackson nailed a 3 off the glass.
Allen opened OT with a 3-pointer, and two Kameron Chatman free throws made it 108-99 with 1:33 remaining.
Josh Ibarra had 31 points and 13 rebounds for Houston Baptist (1-3). Jalon Gates made five 3s and scored 18 points.
TEXAS TECH 85 NORTHWESTERN 49
Keenan Evans scored 25 points to lead the Red Raiders over the 20thranked Wildcats in the title game of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at Uncasville, Conn.
Zach Smith added 11 points, while Tommy Hamilton IV and Niem Stevenson each had 10 for the Red Raiders (4-0), who dealt coach Chris Collins his most lopsided loss in five years at Northwestern.
MICHIGAN ST. 93 STONY BROOK 71
Miles Bridges scored 20 points before limping off the court with an ankle injury, casting a pall over the No. 2 Spartans’ win over the Seawolves at East Lansing, Mich.
“It’s not a high-ankle sprain,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said. “It’s just a sprain where he rolled it. He’ll be day-to-day.”
Women CONNECTICUT 97 MARYLAND 72
Kia Nurse had 21 points to lead six Connecticut players in double figures as the top-ranked Huskies routed the No. 15 Terrapins at Hartford, Conn.
LOUISVILLE 74, OREGON 61
Asia Durr scored 26 points, and the No. 5 Cardinals dominated early with defense in beating the No. 10 Ducks in the preseason women’s NIT final at Louisville, Ky.